Nervous Arsenal suffer

Fredrik Ljungberg admitted today that Arsenal have yet to find the balance to become a force in Europe.

The Swedish midfielder, whose goal in the 1-1 draw against Rosenborg here in Trondheim keeps Arsenal top of Group E, said: "Unfortunately after we took an early lead, we stopped playing our attacking football and just kept the ball.

"Maybe instead of just trying to keep 1-0 we should have gone for another goal. Of course we can concede a goal at the same time we are giving it a go.

"We should have done that a little bit more last night. We started attacking again after they equalised and we created a lot of chances.

"With normal luck we would have scored another goal. We are an attacking side, there is no question about it. But we have been playing in the Champions League a long time and sometimes when you get a lead you don't want to mess it up. Sometimes we went forward too much.

"Our experience in previous years in Champions League is that perhaps we have gone forward too much. Maybe we have learned that we need something in between. Last night, we were maybe too cautious and didn't go too much in attack."

Real Madrid once lost in Trondheim so a point is not a terrible result. But after the spectacular performance of Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford, this game, like all the others in the Champions League, was bound to suffer by comparison.

"At least we got a point," said Thierry Henry. "A 1-1 draw away from home in the Champions League is never a bad result. We certainly created chances but I know that chances don't win games.

"Against Rosenborg we could have had our heads up a bit more around the box. The openings were still there but so many times the ball was bouncing off my feet. That is just the way it is sometimes."

Arsenal's approach work in the first half was fine. Goalkeeper Espen Johnsen was identified as a weak link with his eccentric ways and he did not disappoint as early as the fifth minute.

Johnsen is studying to be a doctor and the Norwegian public must be hoping he does not become a surgeon. His handling is at best dodgy as he showed when he pushed away a tame Henry shot for a corner when claiming possession seemed just as easy.

Henry took the corner, Rosenborg failed to clear their lines and when the French striker returned the ball, Ljungberg converted. "At 1-0 up, we were not positive enough," said manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal's cause was helped by the contribution of Frode Johnsen. He was the much-lauded dangerman. In reality his finishing was abysmal. However, it was Arsenal's own failure, when Edu did not release the ball in midfield, that brought the equaliser as Oyvind Storflor broke clear and crossed for Roar Strand to hammer past Jens Lehmann.

"I don't think it was complacency or lack of commitment," insisted Wenger. "We had the chances to win by more. But overall we were too cautious and there was more of a desire to keep the result. We were more nervous than cautious."